Star Fields

Chapter No.80. Evolution

Chapter No.80. Evolution

Sometimes, it just a big surprise.

While Molly continued the search for more habitable candidate star systems, we remained on station, which allowed us to have more time to ourselves. However, we still gathered in my living area after supper for discussion about the day's activities. What we were about to hear would change everything.

"I've found a couple of new possibilities," Molly said. "But, one thing is certain. This galaxy doesn't contain too many habitable systems."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"I think it has to do with the supermassive black hole in its center. It's too active and is blasting out lots of radiation that's not friendly to life."

"Speaking of life," Alexa said. "I've been researching why we are supposedly not the same as the non-human androids, and what I found is mind boggling."

We all attentively turned to her.

"We are not different. These androids have exactly the same inner organs that we do."

"What do you mean?" I asked, my brow wrinkled.

"The androids have exactly the same organs for digestion and energy production as we do."

"But they don't eat," I pointed out.

"Actually, they do. During their time in the energy modules, they actually take in an organic mix that contains the ingredients that the nano-bots can use to extract energy."

"That is mind boggling!" Molly exclaimed.

"Actually, that isn't the good part. It turns out that we and the androids have reproductive organs."

I squinted. "What are you telling us; that the androids and we can reproduce?"

"I think so. It would probably require finding the switch in the programming that would allow it."

"Holly Hell!" I exclaimed. "That is a game changer."

"You mean we could have sex and produce android babies?" Marie asked, her voice rising an octave.

"I believe so," Alexa said.

"I'm not sure how that would work," I said. "How would the baby grow?"

"That's the really interesting part," Alexa said with a sly grin. "It seems that we females have the capability to not only gestate a baby, we are able to nurture it. The nano-bots are capable of causing both the gestation and the growth."

"Are you suggesting that both the female androids and we can do this?" Molly asked.

"Yes. Male androids have the chemical coding in their sperm to combine with the female ovum coding to make a completely new android that's a mixture of both attributes."

"Then, why don't they make them that way?" Margaret asked. "Why do they have to use a machine to do it?"

"Apparently, the programming code to do it in us is there but not activated," Alexa said.

I sighed. "There is no way that the Phoenix Project engineers were able to come up with the complicated method to do this . . . this magic trick. This suggests that the originators had access to some truly intelligent alien knowledge."

"I'm not sure how we are going to find this genius alien species," Molly said.

"Are we going to try this magic trick?" Marie asked with a gleam in her eyes.

"First, we have to find the switch in the coding," Molly said. "And then figure out how to turn it on."

I turned to Alice and Ellen. "Are you aware of this coding switch?"

"Yes, Jason. We can turn it on."

I shook my head. "You learn something new every day."

They laughed.

"I think we should allow one of the male androids to impregnate a female android and see if it works," Alexa said.

"Okay, I think I'd like to see Ben impregnate Betsy," I said. "Can you turn that switch on in them?" I asked Alice.

"Yes, Jason."

"If we have all of these abiogenic internal organs and skin, why do we consider ourselves dead?" Margaret asked.

"Actually, that's a good question," I said. "The only reason we haven't embraced the idea of being alive is because it's not biologically based as we knew it. The fact is that we are a new kind of life. The nano-bots regenerate our organs and flesh, and we live and breathe by converting organic material into energy. And, we can sexually reproduce. I would consider that as being alive by any definition."

"I've been studying these nano-bots," Alexa said. "There are at least five different functional types and they are all linked to the main computer system. They're basically little metal machines with computer brains. I labeled them as to function. The Soldier bots have sharp pinchers that allow them to cut up bacteria, fungi and viruses. They are responsible for destroying and ridding our bodies of any biological invaders.  The Repair bots have tool appendages that allow them to repair structures in our body. The Chemistry bots have various injectors, bond breakers and probes that allow them to digest the food we eat and convert it into energy that can be ushered into the various locations by the Worker bots. They also are able to extract oxygen from water. The Director bots keep the other bots functioning in efficient ways. They also send and receive orders from the central processor."

I smiled. "That's truly amazing."

She turned to me. "You're right about us being alive. We just use a different chemistry. Our cellular duplication method doesn't rely on DNA, but rather a complicated polymeric material that uses carbon- carbon and carbon-silicon bonding."

I chuckled. "That's amusing. Silicon-based chemistry was proposed as a possible extraterrestrial life form, but no examples of it were ever found."

"I'm still trying to fathom the complicated chemistry and physics that keeps us alive," Alexa said.

"You are to be commended for your work in trying to understand all of this. You have ushered us into a new level of knowledge of what we are and what our mission is."

The others added their affirmation to my praise of her work.

"I can't imagine what it would be like to become pregnant," Margaret said, holding a hand to her belly.

"I wonder if childbirth will be painful," Molly said. "I remember my mother telling me how much pain she suffered."

"Pain receptors can be turned off, Molly," Alice said.

"How convenient," Marie quipped.

We laughed.

"I think we should allow this to sink in," I said. "Let's go back to Earth and try to determine who came up with all of this. Maybe we will find the true reason for all of it."

No one objected to my plan.

More surprises to come!